June 27-28, July 5

The Local Government Unit of Bauang representatives joined the Provincial Government of La Union team in the inspection of tourism establishments (TEs) for the implementation of the Provincial Ordinance 108-2017, requiring pool/resort owners engaged in that business and similar businesses to provide duly certified lifeguards and lifeguarding equipment in their operation, providing penalties for violation thereof and other purposes.

35 TEs with pools were inspected, 16 had complied with the ordinance; 16 did not have a certified lifeguard; 2 were closed due to construction, and 1 establishment refused to cooperate. The Bauang PNP fined all 16 establishments that do not have certified lifeguards two thousand pesos (2,000.00) for their first offense. The basis for this fine is Section 8 of the said ordinance, which states that the fines/penalties are as follows: first offense: imprisonment for two months or a fine of two thousand pesos, or both, at the discretion of the court; second and subsequent offenses: imprisonment for six months or a fine of five thousand pesos, or both, at the discretion of the court. This joint inspection aims to raise awareness among all the tourism establishments engaged in business related to the ordinance of the importance of having a certified and trained lifeguard and to assess the readiness of the staff and establishments to avoid any untoward incidents. The Municipal Information and Tourism Office (MITO) collaborated with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), and the Bauang PNP assist the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Office of the Committee on Tourism, the La Union Provincial Tourism Office (LUPTO), and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), during the inspection.

For more information on the Lifeguard Ordinance, visit the link provided below.

Link: https://tinyurl.com/54c3d7uw

Photos by: @Pasiar Bauang